Iraqi author Hassan Blasim’s new short-story collection, The Iraqi Christ, won’t be available until February or March of 2013. But if you want to get a copy early:
You’ll find them at three book-launch events mid-December. Blasim is the author of the impressive International Foreign Fiction Prize-longlisted, PEN-prize-winning collection Madmen of Freedom Square. This collection of short stories, like the previous one, was translated by Jonathan Wright.
It could make a holiday gift, if you do that sort of thing. Or else you could just read and cherish it.
You can also find his stories in Arabic on the website IraqStory; I’m not sure why I can’t link to them directly, but just go to قصص, then قصص عراقية and then you’ll find حسن بلاسم midway down the list.
MON, DECEMBER 10
The Newcastle launch of The Iraqi Christ is set to takes place at the Lit & Phil Library; 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1SE (Tel: 0191 232 0192).
7pm. Free.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11
The Manchester launch of The Iraqi Christ is set to take place at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester M1 5BY.
7pm. Free
WED 12 DEC
The London launch of The Iraqi Christ is set for the Mosaic Rooms, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, London SW5 0SW
7pm. Similarly free, and you can find more information on their website.
I don’t as yet have anyone to cover any of the events or to interview Blasim. (Yes, I can do so over email, but in person is much more personly.) If you are interested, please do contact me at mlynxqualey – at – gmail – dot – com.
